Superman #20 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1943. It was published on October 27, 1942.
Synopsis for "Superman's Secret Revealed"
Lois Lane plays a prank on Clark Kent by concocting a fake newspaper story, revealing that Clark Kent is Superman. Things get out of hand, and the story gets published, creating a vexing series of problems for the Man of Steel.
Appearing in "Superman's Secret Revealed"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Luthor (Cameo)
- Prankster (Cameo)
- Puzzler (Cameo)
- Adonis (Cameo)
- Adolf Hitler (Cameo)
- Ironjaw Grogan
Other Characters:
- Bruce Wayne (Cameo)
- Dick Grayson (Cameo)
Locations:
Synopsis for "Destroyers From the Depths"
A German inventor, Herr Fange, develops a whistle capable of summoning and controlling titanic monsters from deep in the ocean. From these, he forms an army of Nazi-controlled Sea Serpents, that Hitler plans to use against Allied convoys. They also raid the town of Weston. Superman assists the U.S.Navy in fighting the creatures and protecting ships. Fange's whistle gets broken, and the monsters turn against him, and destroy his submarine.
Appearing in "Destroyers From the Depths"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Nazi Party
- Adolf Hitler
- Herr Fange (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- U.S.Navy crews
Locations:
Vehicles:
- Convoys
- Escorting warships
- Fange's Submarine (Destroyed)
Synopsis for "Lair of the Leopard"
Appearing in "Lair of the Leopard"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lois Lane
- Herman the Heroic (Herman Hoskins) (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- The Leopard (Single appearance)
- his gang
Other Characters:
- Catg Johnson, zookeeper
- Zeb Harmon, zookeeper
Locations:
Synopsis for "Not In the Cards"
After losing at various card championships, and being busted by Superman, The Puzzler vows to escape from prison and kill every one of the winners. He does escape, and he kills one of them, before Superman intervenes to protect the others. The Puzzler sets up a death-trap puzzle for Superman, which Superman overcomes, but the Puzzler gets away.
Appearing in "Not In the Cards"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Puzzler
- his gang
Other Characters:
- Jim Cameron
- Peter Fellows
- Philip Brandon
- Jake Clymer
- Morton Thornton
- Harlow Gates (Dies)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet
- Prison
Notes
- Published by Superman, Inc.
- First issue of this title to be edited by Jack Schiff, replacing Whitney Ellsworth.
- This issue is reprinted in The Superman Archives Vol. 5.
- In Destroyers From the Depths, Fange's submarine is destroyed by his own monsters.
- At the end of Not In the Cards, the Puzzler has escaped and is still at large. This was rare, in stories of the Golden Age.
- In "Superman's Secret Revealed", Luthor appears briefly, but develops no new big or evil scheme. He will return with his twelfth mad plan in Superman #31.
- Brief cameo of Batman and Robin in their civilian identities in "Superman's Secret Revealed" . First time in a comic book written by Jerry Siegel and only time drawn by Joe Shuster and/or Shuster Studio artists. In this story they did not know Superman is secretly Clark Kent before big "fake" public reveal.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Superman Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Action Comics (Volume 2)
- Adventures of Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 3)
- Superman (Volume 4)
- Superman (Volume 5)
- Superman (Volume 6)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- Superman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Superman: Son of Kal-El (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Tomorrow (Volume 1)
- Superman/Wonder Woman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)
Links and References
